Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 17, 2026
12:40
Cultivation of Heligmosomoides Polygyrus: An Immunomodulatory Nematode Parasite and its Secreted Products
Published on: April 6, 2015
Helminthic therapy: using worms to treat immune-mediated disease
David E Elliott1, Joel V Weinstock
1Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa 52242-1009, USA. david-elliott@uiowa.edu
Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology
|January 9, 2010
Summary
Modern hygiene practices may increase immune-mediated diseases. Parasitic worms (helminths) exposure is linked to reduced disease, suggesting helminth-host interactions could treat inflammatory conditions.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Epidemiology
- Infectious Disease
Background:
- Immune-mediated diseases are rising in industrialized nations.
- Modern hygiene limits exposure to helminths, which may protect against these diseases.
- Epidemiological and animal studies suggest a correlation between helminth presence and reduced immune-mediated disease incidence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the scientific literature on helminth colonization and its impact on immune responses.
- To explore the potential of helminth-host interactions in treating immune-mediated diseases.
Main Methods:
- Review of epidemiological studies.
- Analysis of animal models of immune-mediated diseases (colitis, encephalitis, Type 1 diabetes, asthma).
- Examination of clinical trial data on helminth exposure in inflammatory bowel disease patients.
Main Results:
- Helminth colonization protects against various immune-mediated diseases in mouse models.
- Clinical trials indicate helminth exposure can decrease disease activity in ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.
- Helminths modulate host immune responses, offering protection against dysregulated inflammation.
Conclusions:
- Helminth colonization significantly alters immune responses to combat inflammation.
- Helminth-host immune interactions present a promising avenue for novel therapeutic strategies.
- Further research into helminth therapy could revolutionize the treatment of immune-mediated diseases.
Related Concept Videos
01:15Anthelminthic Agents
Anthelmintic drugs differ significantly from antiparasitic therapies targeting protozoa, primarily due to differences in parasite biology. Whereas most protozoal treatments act on proliferating cells, anthelmintics are typically directed against mature, nonproliferative helminths. The therapeutic approach considers the helminth's reliance on neuromuscular coordination, glucose metabolism, and microtubular integrity for survival, reproduction, and localization within the host. Most anthelmintics...
01:28Amebiasis
Entamoeba histolytica, a protozoan parasite, is responsible for intestinal and extraintestinal amebiasis. Though a significant proportion of infections remain asymptomatic, approximately 50 million individuals annually are estimated to present with clinical disease, resulting in up to 100,000 deaths globally. The disease burden is disproportionately high in regions with lower socioeconomic status, such as parts of India, Africa, Mexico, and Latin America.Etiology and TransmissionThe infective...
01:21Antiprotozoal Agents
Leishmaniasis is a widespread parasitic disease caused by several Leishmania species. It affects millions of people each year and remains a major public health problem in endemic regions. First-line treatment relies on pentavalent antimonials, including meglumine antimoniate and sodium stibogluconate. Even so, how these drugs work has not been fully clear, especially their interaction with parasite-specific biochemical pathways. One key target is trypanothione reductase (TR), an enzyme that...
01:27Tumor Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy is a treatment that boosts or manipulates the immune system to fight diseases, including cancer. For instance, by stimulating an immune response through vaccinations against viruses that cause cancers, like hepatitis B virus and human papillomavirus, these diseases can be prevented. Nonetheless, some cancer cells can avoid the immune system due to their rapid mutation and division. The immune response to many cancers involves three phases: elimination, equilibrium, and escape.
01:28Fungal Phylum Microsporidia
Microsporidia are a group of obligate intracellular fungi that were initially classified as protists but were later reclassified based on phylogenetic, molecular, and structural evidence linking them to the Chytridiomycota. These unicellular, non-motile organisms are highly specialized parasites that infect a wide range of animal hosts, including humans. They have evolved extensive genomic and metabolic reductions, making them highly dependent on their hosts for survival.Morphology and Genomic...
01:29Drugs for Treatment of Crohn's Disease in IBD Using Immunomodulatory Agents
Crohn's disease is an inflammatory bowel disorder marked by chronic inflammation of the GI tract. Various treatment strategies for Crohn's disease are employed, such as immunomodulatory agents, glucocorticoids, and biologics or anti-TNF therapy. Azathioprine (Imuran), a commonly used immunomodulatory drug for Crohn's disease, is converted in the body to mercaptopurine, which inhibits purine biosynthesis and cell proliferation. Both are utilized in severe cases of Inflammatory Bowel Disease...